CLARKSVILLE -Tony Davis earned his first state championship as a high school coach in March. His Panthers basketball team beat the favorite, Jonesboro-Westside, and Arkansas Razorbacks signee Hunter Mickelson in the Class 4A state championship game at Summit Arena in Hot Springs.

Now Davis is looking to bring another state title to Clarksville High School, this time as the head golf coach for the Panthers and Lady Panthers.

"If I could win a state championship in tiddlywinks, I'd do it," Davis joked Monday.

He takes over the program from Brian Qualls, who stepped down after several years because, as Davis said, "he was out of class so much, he just felt it was time to get out."

Davis said the Panthers are five-deep and have been putting in the work needed to compete in the 4A-4 Conference.

"We don't have any Arnold Palmers or Jack Nicklauses here, but we come out and compete," Davis said. "That's all I can ask them to do."

Dylan Hanson, Cory Saverse, Teron Cox, Jacob Watkins and Alex Weick make up Clarksville's boys golf program, and all five bring something to the team.

"Dylan Hanson is probably our No. 1 right now," Davis said. "He's a solid golfer and a course rat. He plays all the time. He wants to get better and he's willing to put the time in. That's what you've got to have. There's only so much I can do with these kids. Golf is one of those sports that you have to spend a lot of time by yourself on the course playing. That's what makes you good or not good. The rest of these guys come to the course every day ready to work. Whether it's a putting drill, a chipping drill or whatever, they're willing to do it to improve their game and build a competitive team that will challenge for a state championship."

The Lady Panthers are expected to be conference favorites as they return the state's No. 1 girls golfer, Madison Talley, who won the Class 4A and overall individual state championships as a sophomore last year, and is the likely favorite this year. While Talley can win an individual championship, she will rely on solid teammates Kaitlyn Thompson and Maddie Barr to earn a team title.

"I think (our biggest challenge) is just keeping focused," Davis said. "You know, not reading our press clippings and knowing we're not a one-man show, or whatever. We've just got to take care of business.

"Madison is just a solid player, all around. Maddie and Kaitlyn bring the ability to score and score low, which is what you've got to have if you want to win a state championship."

Clarksville opened its season last Wednesday, and competed in its second meet Monday at Russellville Country Club.